It all stems from bleeding heart liberalism. All criminals must be disadvanted , because people are always bad for a good reason. So therefore all criminals are malnourished oppurtunists.

You actually personally know any liberals who think this? I'm a liberal, and I think that's ****. I also think that the partisan political stabs should be saved for other forums...in your case, probably Freerepublic.com.

I can't believe that people actually believe that a couple hours of "self defense" techniques will work.
I think there should be more focus on the practical side of self defense - environmental awareness. It's not flashy but common sense works wonders.
examples:
Don't go to sketchy places.
Be with someone else (couple or group) whenever possible.
Look around and pay attention to what/who is nearby.

COMMON SENSE > CONFIDENCE
I am a Big Black Man (BBM) of 6' 250lbs of muscle and extreme confident. I have a lot of experience with violence but personally and professionally. I carry an concealed firearm and follow rule #9 (Always carry a knife). I am not a soft target. People have tried to mug me. The attempts failed but if it can happen to me then it can happen to a woman with a few hours of karate kata training and I don't like their chances.

This **** really bums me out. A few thread's ago there was that video of using gum up the nose as a distraction against an attacker. My girlfriend overheard it and thought it sounded like a good idea. I face palmed hard, and tried to explain to her how it was the worst idea ever.

I feel like a lot of women see martial arts as an violent, aggressive, and male dominated culture that is not a safe space for women. Also, people who don't know **** about martial arts, and maybe don't have much interest in them, think that taking a few self defense classes is common sense. "I'm not looking to be a fighter, just wan't to learn how to deal with situations on the streets" and that sort of mentality.
It sucks that the response to the need for women's self defense is a lot of bullshit. Especially when people don't to put the time in.

This place, for example, has self defense classes once a week for 5 weeks. That's not even enough time to get footwork down. I admit that I see everything from the point of view of combat sports and how what I learn might transfer over to self defense. I haven't seen what they train, but, I've seen others like it.http://www.caeny.org/index.html#schedule

I had my girlfriend come to a smoker at my gym that was a benefit for the rape crisis center. All female fighters. Afterwards I think she saw boxing and kickboxing in a better light.

The type of thought in the OP really pisses me, and is part of the reason why I got into teaching women's self defense courses at a college. Yes, confidence helps. However, why can't you teach useful techniques that have a chance in hell of working vs the crap most people teach? No seminar is gonna make you a good fighter in short order, but at least do something that can work, while building confidence, and mostly importantly, and aggressive, fight-back instincts.

You actually personally know any liberals who think this? I'm a liberal, and I think that's ****. I also think that the partisan political stabs should be saved for other forums...in your case, probably Freerepublic.com.

Im English, Lrn2 politics. It Isnt America, doesnt work the same way. By our standards, your liberals are conservative.